Heritage Data Form

Attachment A

Heritage Report for the Old St James Anglican Church

2 Kent Street, Minto

Report undertaken by Heritage 21 Heritage Data Form

ITEM DETAILS Name of Item St James Anglican Church

Other Name/s - Former Name/s Item type Built (if known) Item group Religion (if known) Item category Church (if known) Area, Group, or - Collection Name Street number 2

Street name Kent Street

Suburb/town Minto Postcode 2566

Local Government Campbelltown Area/s Property Lot 12 / DP 712599 description Location - Lat/long Latitude -34.028673 Longitude 150.846923

Location - AMG (if Zone Easting Northing no street address) Owner Anglican Church of Australia

Current use Vacant

Former Use Church

Statement of St James Anglican Church embodies historical, associative, aesthetic, social, and representative significance values, and is also significant for its rarity in the local context.

St James Anglican Church exhibits historical significance at the local level as remnant evidence of the

historical development of the local area and the increasing population of the late-nineteenth century.

Its relocation represents the growth of Minto as a distinct township and has served the needs of the

Anglican community of Minto for nearly a century. The building is associated with two prominent architects of the Federation period – Henry Austin Wilshire (who designed the original building) and John Burcham Clamp (who oversaw the relocation project). Together, Wilshire and Burcham Clamp are associated with over 40 buildings and / or works which are statutorily protected as heritage items in New South Wales. The subject building forms part of their legacies.

Although the building is not notable for displaying any particular creative achievement, the building does demonstrate landmark qualities in the area as one of the last remnant buildings from the original Minto Village. It is intact and its original form, scale, and dimensions are readily legible from all perspectives. Its setting – including early palm tree plantings and intact front fence from c. 1930s – remains intact, and serves to enhance the landmark qualities of the building. Additionally, the building displays significant technical achievement, having been dismantled and reconstructed entirely by hand within 10 weeks, with minimal change to original fabric (save the deletion of the front veranda). St James Anglican Church represents the continuing presence of the Anglican community in the locale for over a century. Its built fabric displays evidence of community involvement – several renovation works have been undertaken by members of the local community, including extensive working bees in the 1970s. The place also demonstrates ties to the Anglican community of New South Wales, with Wilshire (the original architect) designing the building pro bono, and donations towards the original

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building made by the trustees of St James Church, Sydney and St Phillips Church, Glebe. In general, the site represents a continuing link between the Anglican Church of NSW and the Anglican community of Minto, and is socially significant. The subject building is one of the last remnant buildings that date to the early beginnings of Minto Village, and its original form, scale, and setting is readily legible. It is a locally rare item. At the same time, the building is a highly intact example of a simple, late-nineteenth century church building, and its continued legibility means that it is a fine representation of this type of building. Level of Significance State Local

DESCRIPTION Designer Henry Austin Wilshire

Builder/ maker T. P. Latter

Physical Exterior: Description The subject site is a large allotment located at the intersection of Redfern Road and Kent Street. The

property frontage displays a wire and timber fence which, although not original, likely dates to the

Inter-War period. Between the fence and the Church building are a series of palm trees, which were

planted in the late 1910s. The relatively large, grassed allotment gives ample curtilage for the Church

building to stand out as the prominent built form at the site.

The Church building itself is of simple form – a single-storey building with a prominent gabled roof with a slight parapet at the front and back. The structure is of polychromatic brick masonry construction, with a roof of cement tile sheeting. At the front of the building is a smaller, enclosed gable element with a pointed arch window fronting the street, which serves as the entry point to the Church. Near the apex of the primary gable, at both sides, is a decorative oeil de boeuf opening.

At the side elevations to the east and west, the structure is punctured by an identical fenestration pattern of three, pointed arch windows set into bays created by non-load bearing piers, with doors at the northern ends. At the rear, the Church is supported by two buttresses of brick masonry in a polychromatic tonality similar to that of the primary structure. These were added after the building was reconstructed at the present site in 1918. Interior: Originally, the site would have been divided into two spaces: the front gable entrance, and the nave. Currently, the interior is divided into four spaces: the entrance, a makeshift narthex, the nave, and an upper level (above the narthex, facing into the nave). The narthex and upper level are recent additions of timber construction. The ceiling is of timber planks, with evenly-spaced hardwood trusses. Flooring is timber, and likely early to the construction of the Church. Stained glass windows at the rear wall are visible from within the building. Physical condition A preliminary visual inspection was undertaken in January 2018, which found that the item is in fair condition. Archaeological Low – none. potential Construction years Start year 1897 Finish year 1898 (dismantled and reconstructed Circa 1918) Modifications and The original building – located on a different site between the townships of Minto and Ingleburn – was dates dismantled and reconstructed in its present location in Minto in 1918. The reconstructed Church was exactly the same as the original, although the original veranda which extended across the primary elevation of the building had been deleted in the building’s second iteration.

Other modifications and alterations to the building and the site include:

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Late 1910s: Planting of palm trees at the property frontage, Redfern Road

1920: Construction of tennis court

Late 1920s: Replacement of four Miller kerosene lights – used to illuminate the interior – with three Aladdin lamps (donated by parishioners)

August 1938: Installation of electric lights in interior 1948: Connection to new city water supply 1962: Expansion of Church to obtain adjacent Guild Hall (currently in use at the Children’s Centre) 1966: Construction of Sunday School Hall (later demolished to make way for new Church building) 1975: Erection of rectory building; Retiling of roof of Church building (the cost of which was borne through an interest-free loan from Mary Monkley, a late parishioner) 1977: Internal floor varnished; vestry and broom room removed from interior to allow space for organ, communion table, and dais Late 1970s: Renovation of stained glass window at northern end of building in memory of Mr Apps, a late parishioner; Community working bees – repainting all windows and doors of building; clearing moss from southern end of building; replacement of most fencing around Church and rectory buildings 1 December 1984: Laying of foundation stone for new Church building, to the south of the original Church – the new Church building, which is currently in use, was opened on 25 May 1985 Further comments None.

HISTORY Historical notes Beginnings:

As a result of significant population growth in the region, St James Church of England was first erected

on the corner of Minto and Cumberland Roads in 1897 to serve the suburbs of Glenfield, Ingleburn,

and Minto. The architect of the building was Henry Austin Wilshire, the youngest son of James

Robert Wilshire MLC, second elected Lord Mayor of Sydney. Henry Wilshire was a prominent social

figure and architect in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and at present 12 of his

buildings have been afforded statutory protection as heritage items in NSW. Wilshire provided his services pro bono to the Anglican Church for the design of St James Church. Prior to construction of the Church, a sum of approximately £200 was donated by the trustees of St James Church in central Sydney, with a smaller amount given by St Phillips Church in Glebe.

Construction and Opening: The foundation stone for the Church was laid on 13 September 1897 by the Bishop of Bathurst, the Right Reverend Dr C.E. Camidge. The ceremony was seen as a “means of bringing a large gathering of the residents together,” and was a well-attended affair which was followed by a fundraising concert. Copies of Sydney and local newspapers from the day of the ceremony were placed in a bottle, which in turn was placed into a portion of the foundation stone. Also in the bottle was a written document recording the names of the principal figures in the ceremony.

St James Church was officially opened on Saturday 5 February 1898. The Cumberland Herald wrote at length on the Church’s opening, describing a service which had “a very large attendance, which included visitors from all parts of the [Minto-Ingleburn-Glenfield] district.” The article goes on to describe the building: The foundations are built in solid cement, the walls being 9in. with a 3in. cavity. The gables are 14in. with 3in. cavity, dark grey, with red bricks as a string course ; also, door and window openings which are Gothic. The frames are Oregon with Kauri linings and architraves. The roof is open with framed principals, lined on the top with colonial mahogany and covered with Terra Cotta rooffing [sic] tiles. The floors are 4in. x 1in. T.G. best tallow-wood. The chancel windows are fitted with lead lights and tinted glass ; all other windows are frosted. The vestry and organ screens are formed of Oregon and

diagonal panels of best Kauri. The whole of the seats, pulpit, reading-desk, and front-table are of the

same material. The decoration of interior of walls are French grey Alabastine, with a stencil design

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St James would soon become a focal point for community gatherings, with many fundraising events held at the Church grounds. For one such event, a marquee was lent gratis to the Church by Dudley and Co., sailmakers located in Sussex Street, Sydney. Captain Thomas Dudley, of Dudley and Co., was a somewhat infamous figure in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. In July 1884, Dudley was on voyage from Southampton, England to Australia on the yacht Mignonette, which became foundered some 1800 miles from the closest shoreline. Dudley, two men, and a young boy were fortunate enough to escape on a boat, but without any provisions. After two weeks with no food or water, Dudley and one of the other men decided to execute and consume the young boy. The three survivors were eventually rescued and taken to Falmouth. Dudley and the other man responsible for the death of the boy were tried at the assizes of Exeter, where they were sentenced to death for cannibalism on the high seas. The sentence, however, was immediately commuted to six months’ prison with no hard labour. After moving to Sydney and finding commercial success as a sail maker and ship chandler, Dudley would become the first person in Australia to die of the bubonic plague in February 1900.

Relocation: Rising populations in the townships of Minto and Ingleburn in the early twentieth century saw St James increasingly unable to serve the two communities for which it was established. A meeting was convened on 25 June 1915 by the Rural Dean of Cobbity and attended by the rectors of Campbelltown and Ingleburn, together with their wardens. Ingleburn expressed a desire for a new church and St James, in its original location on the border of the two towns, was not seen as adequately central to either one or the other. On 15 February 1915, the people of Minto had purchased two blocks of land in proximity to Minto Village, on Kent Street at the intersection with Redfern Road. This would eventually become the new location for St James Church (where it still stands), although at the time there were inadequate funds to move the structure to a new location. By the mid-1910s St James was only occasionally being used for Church services, with services mainly being held at the Minto School of Arts. During this time, St James would become something of a haven for ‘swaggies’ – transient itinerant labourers who would pass through on their way to find employment opportunities wherever they existed. Research suggests that the initial plan was for the final services at the original St James to be held towards the end of 1915. An article from the Campbelltown Herald dated 25 September 1915 writes of a wedding which was “in all probability” the final service to be held at the Church before the relocation. However, Church records indicate that the final service to be held at the original St James was on Sunday, 21 July 1918. No records detailing the specifics of this service were kept, however following this and through the end of July, workers began the process of cleaning and clearing the new Kent Street site and dismantling the original Church building.

The New Church: In July 1918, a contract was signed with builder Syd A. Cross and architect John Burcham Clamp for the dismantling and rebuilding of St James Church on the allotment purchased by the parishioners of Minto in 1915. Burcham Clamp was a prominent architect in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries, responsible for the original St James Hall on Phillip Street, Sydney (since demolished), Victoria Hall, Manly (since demolished to make way for St Matthews Church), and the conversion of a two-storey residence in Rushcutters Bay to house St Luke’s Hospital. Clamp was also an active Anglican and served as the building surveyor for the diocese of Sydney – he designed St Matthews Church, Manly and the Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore) chapel, North Sydney, and was a founder of the prestigious Cranbrook School in Rose Bay. At present, 29 works designed by or associated with Burcham Clamp have been afforded statutory protection as heritage items in NSW, including two items listed on the State Heritage Register. The contract for the relocation of St James included a time allowance of 10 weeks, and included the dismantling of the original building, transportation of all material and fabric from the original site to the new, and reconstruction of the Church at the new site. All transport was done by horse and dray, and all work done by hand.

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The foundation stone for the rebuilt St James – in its current location on Kent Street, Minto – was laid by Anglican Archbishop of Sydney, John Charles Wright, on Saturday 24 August 1918. The day’s editions of the Daily Telegraph and Campbelltown Herald were placed in the cavity, along with details of the Church and a silver coin struck in 1918. The original foundation stone was also laid at this ceremony. The rebuilt St James was open for worship by the end of 1918, with a dedication service being held on 19 November and conducted by the Dean and Archdeacon of Sydney, Albert Edward Talbot. Records indicate that it was a well-attended affair, with 162 seated guests and many others standing. The Church in its new location was almost identical to its original iteration, save for the deletion of the original veranda which extended along the primary elevation of the building. There were also plans to insert a Gothic arched-extension to the north of the building to lead to the Chancel and vestry door, although this plan never came to fruition. The Church was officially consecrated on Sunday, 14 October 1934 by the Archbishop of Sydney, Howard W. K. Mowll.

THEMES National 3. Developing local, regional and national economies historical theme 4. Building settlements, towns and cities 8. Developing Australia’s cultural life

State Events historical theme Land tenure Religion

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APPLICATION OF CRITERIA Historical St James Anglican Church demonstrates the development of the Minto-Ingleburn locale towards the significance end of the nineteenth century, and was constructed to serve the needs of the growing population of SHR criteria (a) the area. The original foundation stone is intact and exhibits this early development of the area.

In its current location, the site represents the growth of Minto as a distinct locality and is located within

the grounds of the first subdivision of the Minto Township, in the original Minto Village. The second

foundation stone is intact and demonstrates this early development of Minto. Today, the Church is one of the final extant buildings from the original Minto Village. As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as exhibiting historical significance at the local level. Historical The original design for the Church was that of Henry Austin Wilshire, who was the youngest son of association James Robert Wilshire MLC, second elected Lord Mayor of Sydney. Henry Wilshire was a prominent significance architect in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, and at present 12 of his buildings have SHR criteria (b) been afforded statutory protection as heritage items in NSW. Wilshire provided his services pro bono to the Anglican Church for the design of St James Church.

The relocation of St James Church in 1918 was overseen by architect John Burcham Clamp, a

prominent architect in the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth centuries. At present, 29 works designed by or associated with Burcham Clamp have been afforded statutory protection as heritage items in NSW, including two items listed on the State Heritage Register. As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as exhibiting associative significance at the State level. Aesthetic The subject building is not notable for demonstrating any creative achievement, being of a simple form significance typical of church buildings. Despite its associations with two prominent late-nineteenth and early- SHR criteria (c) twentieth century architects, the building is not considered a major work by either of these designers.

However, the building does demonstrate landmark qualities in the area, being one of the last remnant

buildings from the original Minto Village. It is intact, and its original form, scale, and dimensions are

readily legible from all perspectives. Its setting – including early palm tree plantings and intact front fence from c. 1930s – remains intact, and serves to enhance the landmark qualities of the building. The subject building also displays significant technical achievement, having been dismantled and reconstructed entirely by hand within 10 weeks, with minimal change to original fabric (save the deletion of the front veranda). As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as exhibiting aesthetic significance at the local level. Social significance St James Anglican Church represents the continuing presence of the Anglican community in the locale SHR criteria (d) for over a century. Its built fabric displays evidence of community involvement – several renovation works have been undertaken by members of the local community.

The site exhibits ties to the Anglican community of New South Wales, with the building’s original

architect Henry Austin Wilshire undertaking the work pro bono and donations made for the original

building by the trustees of St James Church, Sydney and St Phillips Church, Glebe. The relocation work was overseen by John Burcham Clamp, who was also a prominent figure in the Anglican Church in the early twentieth century. As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as exhibiting social significance at the local level. Technical/Research There is no evidence to suggest that the building demonstrates construction techniques other than significance those commonly employed at the time. SHR criteria (e) The subject site therefore does not meet the requirements of this criterion.

Rarity The subject building is one of the last extant buildings that date to the early beginnings of Minto SHR criteria (f) Village. As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as being locally rare.

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Although not of notable design, the subject building is a highly intact example of simple, late- Representativeness nineteenth century local church buildings in New South Wales. Its original form, scale, and dimensions SHR criteria (g) remain highly legible, and its historical setting – including palm trees and front fence – has been retained, despite later development on the allotment.

As such, the site meets the threshold of this criterion and is assessed as exhibiting representative significance at the local level. Integrity The original form, scale, and dimensions of the Church are readily legible to the present day. Internally, some intrusive fabric has been recently introduced (namely the timber partitions which have created the narthex and the upper level – including the staircase), however this is readily distinguishable from the original fabric. Extant original / early fabric includes: front fence, palm trees, building envelope of brick masonry, timber window frames, roofing, timber doors and surrounds, stained glass windows, and internal flooring.

HERITAGE LISTINGS Heritage listing/s None.

INFORMATION SOURCES Include conservation and/or management plans and other heritage studies. Type Author/Client Title Year Repository Newspaper Biz; Camden News; Various ‘Trove’: National Library of Campbelltown Herald; Daily Australia Telegraph; Evening News; Liverpool Herald; Morning Bulletin; The Sydney Morning Herald. Publication Olaf Brockenhuus-Schack The Church of St James Parish 2010 Myrrh – The Moore of Minto, Wollongong Region, Institutional Repository, Anglican Diocese of Sydney Moore College Library Online Manly Library Local Studies A Cannibal on North Head 16 Northern Beaches Library Blog January, 2014 Online Peter Reynolds Clamp, John Burcham (1869- 1981 Australian Dictionary of 1931) Biography Online NSW Office of Environment & State Heritage Inventory Various NSW Office of Environment & Heritage Heritage

RECOMMENDATIONS Recommendations Retain and conserve building and setting (including significant landscape elements) within an appropriate curtilage. Repair works should be undertaken – in keeping with the maxim of doing “as much as necessary, but as little as possible” – in order to restore full structural integrity to the building. A suitably-qualified heritage practitioner should be engaged to prepare a Schedule of Conservation Works and to subsequently supervise conservation works. The site should be listed as an item of environmental heritage on Schedule 5 of the Campbelltown Local Environmental Plan 2015. In general, the identified heritage values of the site should be managed in accordance with best practice conservation principles offered by The Burra Charter: The Australia ICOMOS Charter for Places of Cultural Significance, 2013 and pertinent documentation produced by the NSW Office of Environment and Heritage. Any work at the site which carries the potential to impact upon identified heritage values should entail

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the preparation of a Heritage Impact Statement, to be written by a suitably-qualified heritage practitioner. Any approved works undertaken at the site should be supervised by a suitably-qualified heritage architect and be undertaken by tradespeople experienced with historical building fabric.

SOURCE OF THIS INFORMATION Name of study or N/A Year of study N/A report or report Item number in N/A study or report Author of study or N/A report Inspected by N/A

NSW Heritage Manual guidelines used? Yes No

This form Heritage 21 Date February completed by 2018

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IMAGES

Image caption Primary (western) elevation and front landscape elements (front fence, palm trees).

Image year 2018 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Southern elevation.

Image year 2018 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Rear (eastern) elevation.

Image year 2018 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Northern elevation.

Image year 2017 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Entrance at front gable.

Image year 2018 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Foundation stones, next to front entrance.

Image year 2017 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Entrance to Church inside front gable.

Image year 2018 Image by Heritage 21 Image copyright Heritage 21 holder

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IMAGES

Image caption Narthex.

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IMAGES

Image caption Staircase in narthex.

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IMAGES

Image caption Nave, as viewed from upper level.

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IMAGES

Image caption Stained glass windows at rear (eastern) elevation.

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IMAGES

Image caption Northern elevation, internal view.

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IMAGES

Image caption Southern elevation, internal view.

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IMAGES

Image caption Roofing, internal view.

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IMAGES

Image caption Detail of roofing.

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IMAGES

Image caption Detail of floor.

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IMAGES

Image caption Original St James Church, located on the intersection of Minto and Cumberland Roads.

Image year n.d. Image by Unknown Image copyright Campbelltown & holder Airds Historical Society

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IMAGES

Image caption St James Church in its current form and location.

Image year c.1937 Image by Unknown Image copyright Campbelltown holder City Council (Follan Collection, Local Studies Collection)

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IMAGES

Image caption Current St James Church, with palm trees at front.

Image year n.d. Image by Unknown Image copyright Campbelltown holder City Council (William Bayley Collection, Local Studies Collection)

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IMAGES

Image caption Current St James Church, as viewed from Kent Street

Image year 1979 Image by Unknown Image copyright Campbelltown holder City Council (Local Studies Collection)